Steering mechanism for aeroplanes



H. 0. WATTS. STEERING MECHANISM FOR AEHOPLANES. APPLICATION FILED DEC. so. 1918.

a'tented Feb. 17,1920.

@Moz/mug HENRY O. WATTS, OF NASHINGTON, DISTRICT OFCOLUMBIA.

STEERING ZIVLEC` FL"41\TISIlVll FOR AEROPLANES.

Original application led July 30, 1918, Serial No. 247,446.

To all whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY O. lVATTs, citizen of the United States of America, residing` at lllashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steering Mechanism for Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the inventionis to provide a unique steering mechanism for aeroplanes, the said mechanism being particularly adapted for machines of the ornithoptei` type, as shown in the applicants pending` application, filed July 30, 1918, Serial No. 247 ,446.

This application is a divisional application of the one above mentioned, but to the particular form in which the steering mechanism is herein shown, the invention is not to be restricted. Actual use in practice may suggest certain desirable changes or alterations and the right is claimed to make any which do not deviate in scope from the anneXed claims.

The same numerals of reference designate the same parts in all of the several figures of drawings, wherein:

`Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a machine on which the improved steering device is attached.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the steering means per se detached from the machine.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a flying machine of the ornithopter type and comprising the frame or fuselage 1 and the wings 2 by which the fuselage is kept afloat. Driving mechanism generally designated 3 is provided for oscillating the wings and a seat 4 is carried in the fuselage for an operator who may operate the driving mechanism by l means of pedals shown as forming part thereof.

All of these parts just mentioned above are the essentials of the organization shown in the application above referred to. The steering mechanism by means of which the machine is guided comprises a plate 5 whose one edge is hingedly connected with the end of a shaft 6 which is carried in suitable bean ings 7, attached to the top of a frame 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

Divided and this application filed December 30,

Serial No. 268,902.

This shaft 6 may move angularly in the said bearings, but it is mounted to preclude longitudinal movement therein. At its forward end which projects beyond the foremost bearing 7, the shaft 6 has pivotally attached to it one end of a depending lever 8, which at a designated point between its handle 9 and its connection with the shaft 6 carries a transverse rod or bar member 10, at the ends of which there are pivotally connected the connecting rods. The remaining ends of the connecting rods 11 are hingedly or pivotally connected with the plate 5 on the under face thereof.

A pair of counter balancing weights 12 are provided and attached to the plate 5 by appropriate arms 14. Since the shaft 6 may not move longitudinally but may move angularly, it is obvious that a lateral movement imparted to the handle 9 of the lever 8 will turn the plate 5 out of the plane in which the machine is flying, and, if the handle 9 be moved forwardly or rearwardly at the same time as this angle shifting of the shaft 6, the plate 5 will be turned to the right or to the left, depending on the direction in which the handle 9 is moved on its pivotal connection and the shaft 6 shifted in its bearings.

It is obvious that the plate 5 may be raised or lowered to cause the machine to ascend or descend or to turn to the right or to the left, the peculiar construction of the mechanism making it possible to shift the plate 5 up, down, in either direction sidewise, or into a position the resultant of any of these two movements.

The invention having been described, what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a flying machine, a fuselage, propulsion means therefor, and steering mecha nism embodying a shaft journaled in the fuselage for rocking movement, a plate hingedly attached to the rear extremity of the shaft, a depending lever having one end pivotally connected to the forward end of the shaft, a transverse rod carried by said lever, and connecting rods having their one end pivotally connected with said rod and their remaining ends hingedly attached to said plate on one face thereof as shown and for the purpose herein specified.

f 2. In a. flying machine, a fuselage, propulsion means therefor, and steering mechanism embodying a shaft journaled in the fuselage allyr connected with said rod and their refor rocking movement, a plate hingedly atmaining ends hingedly attached to said plate taehed to the rearextremity 0I" the shaft, a on one face thereof, anclarms carried by the lo depending lever having one end pivotally plate andprovidecl With Veounterbalaneing 5 connected to the forward end of the shaft, Weights at their extremities.

a transverse rod carried by said lever, and In testimony whereof I affix my signature. connecting rods having their one end pivotn HENRY O. WATTS. 

